Lock-in support system for grill

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to the support mechanism for a grill having a grill bottom, grates for supporting fuel and food, and a cover. The mechanism is detachably attached to the grill without fasteners by projecting pieces that go through holes in the bottom portion or kettle of the grill, some of the projecting pieces supporting the grate for the fuel and other projecting pieces supporting the grate for the food. Only one fastener, for example, a screw with a wing nut, is used to support the mechanism and fasten it to the grill bottom. In a preferred embodiment, the mechanism also has toggle locks to lock together the grill bottom and the cover.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to a grill having a grillbottom, grates for supporting coals and food, and a cover. The inventionrelates more specifically to a support mechanism for a grill, themechanism detachably attaching to the bottom portion or kettle of thegrill without fasteners and having projecting pieces that go throughholes in the kettle, some of the projecting pieces supporting the gratefor the coals and other projecting pieces supporting the grate for thefood.

2. Description of Prior Art

Grills to be used outdoors for cooking a variety of food items have longbeen known. There are grills, for example, which are smokeless, such asthe one disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,263,784 B1, and grills which havetwo or more food supporting sections, such as the one disclosed in U.S.Pat. No. 5,983,882. Further, the grill disclosed in Schlosser et al.,U.S. Pat. No. 4,535,749, is designed to be permanently assembled andinstalled in a backyard or on a large patio. Schlosser et al. disclosesa kettle grill whose bottom is generally semi-hemispherical; the legsare attached to the bottom using screws or bolts fastened with nuts.These bolts extend through the legs and the grill, so that the rackwhich holds the charcoal can be placed on or supported by these bolts.Thus this grill, and other similar grills, contain many parts, includingmultiple screws or bolts with nuts or wing nuts, and often requirespecial equipment for assembly. Also, the legs of this grill attach onthe bottom portion of the bottom half of the grill; the legs are boltedto the grill both on the sides and in the center of the grill bottom.Grills having multiple fasteners are difficult to assemble, suffer fromfailure to be assembled due to lost parts, and are sometimes incorrectlyassembled due to using the fasteners incorrectly or not adequatelytightening the fasteners.

There is a need for a grill having a support system which contains aminimal number of parts, is sturdy and is easy to assemble anddisassemble without the use of special tools or equipment. The presentinvention fills the need for such a grill in a unique manner.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of this invention is to provide a system which supports agrill and is easy to assemble and disassemble without the use of specialtools or equipment.

A further object of this invention is to provide a system which supportsa grill and also supports the grates or racks for holding food and fuelwithin the grill.

A further object of this invention is to provide a system which supportsa grill and is attached to the grill without using screws or otherfasteners.

Another object of this invention is to provide a system which supports agrill and contains a minimal number of parts.

Another object of this invention is to provide a system which supports agrill which includes toggle clips for locking a cover onto the grill.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a system whichsupports a grill which is inexpensive to manufacture.

These and other objects will become apparent from the followingdescription of a preferred embodiment taken together with theaccompanying drawings.

The foregoing objects are achieved according to the preferred embodimentof the invention by a support system which is detachably attached to thegrill without fasteners and which has projecting pieces that go throughholes in the bottom portion or kettle of the grill, some projectingpieces supporting the grate for the coals and other projecting piecessupporting the grate for the food.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention may take physical form in certain parts and arrangement ofparts, a preferred embodiment of which will be described in detail inthe specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings whichform a part hereof, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a grill with the support mechanism;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the grill bottom kettle of FIG. 1 without thesupport mechanism;

FIG. 2 a is a side view of an alternate embodiment of the grill bottomkettle;

FIG. 2 b is a bottom view of an alternate embodiment of the grill bottomkettle;

FIG. 3 is a top view of the grill bottom kettle and support mechanism ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 3 a is a side view of the grill cover of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a section through the direction line 4-4 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the grill and support mechanism of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a side view of a leg piece of the support mechanism;

FIG. 7 is a top view of the lower portion of the leg piece of thesupport mechanism;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the upper portion of the leg piece ofthe support mechanism; and

FIG. 9 is a detailed view of the toggle lock in the locked position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to the drawings, which are used for illustration and not tolimit the invention therewith, a system or support mechanism 2 forsupporting a grill having a grill bottom, kettle or bowl 4, a grate orrack 6 for supporting charcoal briquettes or other barbeque fuel such asgas, or gas burners with sear trays, a grate or rack 8 for supportingfood to be cooked, and a cover 10, is shown. The grill cover 10 isgenerally semi-hemispherical in shape, being flat on its top 12 andhaving generally smooth sides curving outwardly and terminating in aninverted L-shaped edge 14 (when viewed in cross section as shown in FIG.4) which extends around the entire circumference of the cover. Each sideof the L of the L-shaped edge 14 can be about ¼ inch wide. Vent openings15 and a rotatable vent cover 16 (shown in phantom) and a handle 17,which can be attached near the flat top 12 of the cover using a pin orscrew (not shown), would be included as part of the grill cover.

The grill bottom 4 is generally kettle- or bowl-shaped; its sides aregenerally smooth but include two indentations 18, 24 (forming a ridge orshelf on the inside of the grill bottom) where the side curves or bendsinwardly forming a ¼ inch bump or shelf on the inside of the bowl. Thecenter indentations 18 can be in the middle of the grill bottom 4, abouthalf way between the bottom, closed end, of the bowl 20 and the top,open end 22; the center indentation 18 can be about ¼ inch deep and canextend the entire circumference of the bowl. The top indentation 24 canalso extend the entire circumference of the bowl and can also be about ¼inch deep, but it is located within an inch of the top, open end 22 ofthe bowl. On its open end, the bowl terminates in a curved or circular(in cross section) border or rim 26, forming a narrow horizontallyprojecting edge which extends over the top edge 22 of the grill bottom4. The rim 26 cooperates with L-shaped edge 14 of cover 10 to close thegrill and prevent rain water and the like from leaking in, and reducethe amount of smoke and odors leaving the grill. Indentation 18,indentation 24, and rim 26 are all generally parallel, offset andcoaxial, and concentric.

Below the rim, there are three generally rectangular upper openings 28in the top ridge 24 of the grill bottom for receiving supportingapparatus, such as a metal shelf, metal plate or flat metal piece,(extending from a leg piece as described below) for supporting the foodrack 8. Further below the rim, and slightly below the center indentation18, there are three generally rectangular, co-planar lower openings 30in the grill for receiving supporting apparatus, such as a metal shelf,metal plate or flat metal piece (extending from a leg piece also asdescribed below), for supporting the charcoal or fuel rack 6. The upperopenings 28 are equidistantly spaced in the same plane along thecircumference of the bowl so that rack 8 will remain flat when supportedin grill bottom 4. Similarly, the lower openings 30 are equidistantlyspaced in the same plane along the circumference of the bowl forsupporting rack 6 in a flat position, each lower opening being directlybelow an upper opening. Kettle vent openings 31 are provided for air toventilate across the barbeque fuel and can include a bent out pair ofslits 31 through kettle 4, which could have protrusions such as bent outparts of the kettle beneath the respective slits.

In an alternative embodiment, shown in FIGS. 2 a and 2 b, the grillbottom 104 has generally sloping sides and a flat bottom 120, and isconfigured in the form of a truncated cone. On its open end, the grillbottom 104 terminates in a curved or circular border or rim 126, forminga narrow horizontally projecting edge which extends from the top edge122 of the grill bottom 104. The rim 126 cooperates with L-shaped edge14 of cover 10 to close the grill and reduce the exhaustion of smoke andodors. Vent holes 133 can be made in the bottom 120, and holders or tabs135 can also be on the bottom 120. The holders 135 can secure adetachable ashtray 136 (shown partially secured) which receives theashes from the fuel when the grill is in use.

Between ¼ inch and ¾ inch below the rim 126 of the grill bottom 104,there are three generally rectangular upper openings 128 for receivingsupporting apparatus, such as a metal shelf, metal plate or flat metalpiece, (formed from part of a leg piece as described below) forsupporting the food rack 8. Further below the rim, and below the centerof the grill bottom, there are three generally rectangular, co-planarlower openings 130 in the grill bottom for receiving supportingapparatus, such as a metal shelf, metal plate or flat metal piece(formed from a leg piece, also as described below), for supporting thefuel rack 6. The upper openings 128 are equidistantly spaced in the sameplane along the circumference of the bowl so that rack 8 will remainflat when supported in grill bottom 104. Similarly, the lower openings130 are equidistantly spaced in the same plane along the circumferenceof the bowl for supporting rack 6 in a flat position, each lower openingbeing directly below an upper opening. Kettle vent openings 131, whichcan have protrusions extending from beneath the openings, are providedin the grill bottom 104 for air to ventilate across the barbeque fuel.Openings 131 can include a bent out pair of slits through the grillbottom.

In either embodiment, the support mechanism 2 consists of threeidentical leg pieces 32, shown most clearly in FIG. 6. Each leg piecehas a top end 34 from which is stamped or otherwise bent an uppergenerally inverted L-shaped upper bent portion or upper tab 36 which istransverse to the body of each leg piece 32, and which can be receivedby one of the upper openings 28 in grill bottom 4 and, below the uppertab 36, is a lower bent portion or lower tab 38 which is generallyparallel to upper tab 36, and which can be received by one of the loweropenings 30. In the preferred embodiment, the leg pieces 32 are metal,and preferably aluminum or other lightweight metal alloy, although legpieces could also be made from stainless steel, galvanized steel, orother sheet metal products which could be coated for heat and weatherresistance. Upper tab 36 is advantageously bent from leg piece 32 sothat the upper tab 36 extends to form a first horizontal portion 40,followed by a vertical portion 42, from which extends a secondhorizontal portion 44 from the leg piece, the second horizontalextension or portion 44 extending toward the center of the grill bottombowl 4. Portion 40 provides a shoulder for abutting the upper surfacedefining opening 28, and extension 44 forms a shelf for receiving therim of grate 8. The food rack 8 can be a circular grate or rack with thecircular rim as shown in FIG. 3, and which sits on extension 44 so thatthe leg pieces support the food rack 8. In a preferred embodiment, thelower tab 38 extends generally horizontally from the leg piece towardthe center of the grill bottom bowl 4, and forms a shelf on which therim of the rack 6 for holding charcoal or other barbeque fuel can beplaced in a manner similar to that of the food rack 8.

Leg pieces 32 each have connected to each other in sequence an upperportion 46, a middle portion 48, and a bottom portion 49. The upperportion 46, which constitutes about one third of leg piece 32 (and aboutone half of its outer generally vertical segment), is shown curved tomatch the contour of the grill bottom kettle 4. For use with analternative embodiment of the bottom kettle, shown in FIG. 2 a, theupper portion 46 can be straight. When installed, the top end 34 of theleg piece 32 extends through openings 28, 128 under the rolled metalforming the rim 26, 126 of the grill bottom 4, 104. The middle portion48 of the leg piece 32, also constituting about one third of leg piece32, is generally straight and extends away from the upper portion 46 atan angle of between 90 and 150 degrees and extends away from the grillbottom 20 at an angle of about 30 degrees from vertical (measuredclockwise from the vertical extending beneath the intersection ofportions 46 and 48). The leg piece 32 will contact the support surface sin a plane vertically under the rim 26 of the grill bottom kettle 4 forincreased stability of the support system. The bottom third portion 49of leg piece 32 forms an inner radial portion which extends upward at aninternal angle of between 60 and 90 degrees from the lower portion ofmiddle piece 48 (measured clockwise from the middle piece 48) andextends generally up and under the grill bottom 20. This bottom thirdportion 49 contains three sections, the first section forming a foot 50which is almost horizontal, the second section 52 extending upward fromthe first portion and being generally parallel to the middle portion 48,and the third section 54 extending generally horizontally inwardunderneath the grill bottom, and this third section culminates in aloose or free end 56. The loose end 56 of the leg piece 32 contains anopening 58 for receiving fastening apparatus. The openings 58 for allloose ends 56 of leg pieces can be joined together by placing a screw 60with wing nut 62 or other fastening apparatus through all of theopenings simultaneously, fastening the leg pieces 32 to each other tocomplete the support mechanism 2.

In a preferred embodiment, each leg piece 32 also includes a toggle lock64 between the upper tab 36 and lower tab 38 for detachably attachingthe support mechanism 2 and grill bottom kettle 4 to the grill cover 10.The toggle lock 64 can be fastened by means such as bolting, welding,riveting or soldering, to the upper portion 46 of the leg piece 32. Asshown in FIG. 9, the toggle lock 64 is depicted in its locked condition.It is comprised of a base piece 66, a locking arm 68 pivotally mountedon an axle 69 extending through a pair of outwardly extending bracketsof base piece 66, and a locking wire 70 pivotally attached to arm 68.Toggle lock 64 is a locking device which is stable in both the lockedand unlocked positions, so that, when in the locked position, it is notbiased toward the locked position or vice versa. Use of the toggle lock64 is as follows. One places the grill cover 10 onto the grill bottomkettle 4 so that the rim of the grill bottom kettle 4 is engaged withthe L-shaped edge 14 of the grill cover 10. Next, locking arm 68 ispivoted toward or above the horizontal position so that the locking wire70 can move freely, and can be pivoted onto the L-shaped edge 14 of thegrill cover. Finally, the locking arm 68 is forced downward over itscenter position so that it pressed against or abuts the base piece 66 ofthe toggle lock, to bias locking wire against the upper surface of rim14 of cover 10 for locking or attaching the grill cover 10 to the grillbottom kettle 4. To unlock the toggle lock 64, one simply pivots thelocking arm 68 towards or over its center position to the horizontalposition, releasing the locking wire 70 which then can be rotated fromthe L-shaped edge 14 of the grill cover 10. Once all of toggle locks 64are moved from their locked to their open conditions, the cover can beremoved.

The three leg pieces 32 are evenly spaced around the perimeter of thegrill bottom 4, 104 for stability. The upper openings 28, 128 in thegrill bottom 4, 104 are also evenly spaced around the perimeter of thegrill bottom, preferably about one inch below the rim 26, 126. The loweropenings 30, 130 in the grill bottom are evenly spaced around theperimeter of the grill bottom, preferably between two and four inchesbelow the rim 26, 126.

Assembly of the current invention is easy. First, one screws the handle16 onto the grill cover 10 (although this step could be done at anytime). Optionally, one can attach a vent cover to the grill cover overvent openings 15 by means of a connector inserted through an artificebetween vent openings 15 as shown in FIG. 1. Next, one places the grillbottom 4 with its rim 26, 126 on a flat surface and its lower surface20, 120 facing up. In an embodiment with an ashtray 136, the ashtray isattached to the grill bottom 120 by sliding the ashtray into the holders135. In any embodiment, to install the leg pieces 32, one inserts thetop end 34 of each leg piece 32, in turn, under the exterior lip or rim26, 126 of the grill bottom 4, 104. Next, for each leg piece 32, uppertab 36 is placed through an upper opening 28, 128 and lower tab 38 isplaced through the lower opening 30, 130 beneath the corresponding upperopening 28 in the grill bottom 4, 104. Once all of the leg pieces 32 arein place, the fastening apparatus, such as a screw 60, is insertedthrough the leg openings 58 in each of the loose ends 56 of the threelegs 32. The apparatus is fastened together by, for example, screwing awing nut 62 onto the screw 60 (which preferably has a wing handle fixedthereto for rotating screw 60). Next, one turns over the grill bottom 4and attached leg pieces 32 so that the leg pieces are on the desiredsupport surface s, such as a table or patio, and the charcoal rack 6 isput on the lower tabs 38 in the grill bottom 4 and the cooking or foodrack 8 is put on upper tabs 36 in the grill bottom 4. Finally, the cover10 is placed on the grill bottom and the cover 10 is locked onto thegrill bottom 4 with the three toggle locks 64.

Grill cover 10 and grill bottom 4 can be made of any stiff sheet metalwhich is strong enough to receive random blows, be resistant to heatfrom hot fuel and not subject to corrosion from water or from heatingfood. The metal could be aluminum, galvanized steel or stainless steel.Metals subject to corrosion could be coated with a heat and chipresistant paint which are commonly used in the market.

The invention has been described with particular emphasis on thepreferred embodiments. It should be appreciated that these embodimentsare described for purposes of illustration only, and that numerousalterations and modifications may be practiced by those skilled in theart without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It isintended that all such modifications and alterations be included insofaras they come within the scope of the invention or the equivalentsthereof.

1. A support system for a portable grill having a grill bottom, a firstrack for holding items, said grill bottom having a first set of coplanaropenings in one plane, said system comprising: a set of legs, each ofthe legs having a first set of support members for extending through thefirst set of coplanar openings in the grill bottom and for supportingthe first rack by gravity without any additional fasteners, said legsfastenable to each other separate from the grill bottom.
 2. A supportsystem as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first rack holds food, andwherein the portable grill has a second rack for holding fuel, andfurther wherein the grill bottom has a second set of coplanar openingsin a second plane closer to the bottom of the grill than the first setof openings; wherein said set of legs has a second set of supportmembers for extending through the second set of openings for supportingthe second rack by gravity without additional fasteners.
 3. A supportsystem as claimed in claim 2, wherein the grill bottom has a grill rimdefining a main opening into said grill bottom and the first set ofcoplanar openings are upper openings located about ¾″ below the grillrim and the second set of coplanar openings are located about 3″ belowthe grill rim.
 4. A support system as claimed in claim 1, wherein theportable grill further includes a grill cover, said legs having latchingmembers for latching said legs to said grill cover.
 5. A support systemas claimed in claim 4, wherein said latching members are toggle members.6. A support system as claimed in claim 5, wherein said grill cover hasa rim; and wherein said toggle members each comprise a base piece fixedto one of said legs, a locking arm axle parallel to the planes of theopenings in the grill bottom, a locking arm pivotal about said axle, anda locking wire for engaging the rim of the grill cover for latching saidgrill cover to the grill bottom when said locking arm is pivoted to alocking condition.
 7. A support system as claimed in claim 1, whereinsaid legs are made of metal.
 8. A support system for a portable grillhaving a grill bottom, the grill bottom having a rim defining a mainopening into the grill bottom, and a series of radial spaced upperopenings in the grill bottom beneath the grill bottom rim, a series ofradial spaced lower openings in the grill bottom beneath the upperopenings, a first rack for holding food, a second rack for holding fuel,and a grill cover, said system comprising: a plurality of legs, each leghaving a top end, a bottom end, a lower tab, an upper tab, an upperportion beginning at the top end and generally matching the contour ofthe grill bottom, a middle portion being generally straight, and a lowerportion having three sections, the first section forming a foot portion,the second section being generally parallel to the one-third of the legat the middle, the third section being generally perpendicular to thesecond section, said third section having a leg fastener opening, thethird section terminating in the bottom end; and a fastening apparatusfor passing through the leg opening of all of said legs; wherein themiddle portion of each leg extends from the upper portion at an exteriorangle between 90 and 150 degrees, the bottom portion extends from themiddle portion at an interior angle between 60 and 90 degrees, saidfastening apparatus fastens said bottom ends of said legs and said rimengages said top end of each of said legs, said upper openings receivesaid upper tabs, said lower openings receive said lower tabs, said uppertabs support said first rack and said lower tabs support said secondrack.
 9. A support system as claimed in claim 8, wherein said fasteningapparatus is a screw and wing nut.
 10. A support system as claimed inclaim 8, wherein said fastening apparatus is a bolt and nut.
 11. Asupport system as claimed in claim 8, wherein the upper openings areabout ¾″ below the rim.
 12. A support system as claimed in claim 8,wherein the lower openings are between about 2″ and 4″ below the rim.13. A support system as claimed in claim 8, wherein the upper openingsare about ¾″ below the grill rim and the lower openings are about 3″below the grill rim.
 14. A support system as claimed in claim 8, whereineach leg further comprises a toggle lock for locking said leg to thegrill cover.
 15. A support system as claimed in claim 8, wherein saidlegs are made of metal.
 16. A support system as claimed in claim 8,wherein the grill bottom is semi-hemispherical.
 17. A support system fora portable grill having a grill bottom, the grill bottom having a rimdefining a main opening into the grill bottom, and a series of radialspaced upper openings in the grill bottom beneath the grill bottom rim,a series of radial spaced lower openings in the grill bottom beneath theupper openings, a first rack for holding food, a second rack for holdingfuel, and a grill cover, said system comprising: a plurality of legs,each leg having a top end, a bottom end, a lower tab, an upper tab, agenerally straight upper portion beginning at the top end, a middleportion being generally straight, and a lower portion having threesections, the first section forming a foot portion, the second sectionbeing generally parallel to the one-third of the leg at the middle, thethird section being generally perpendicular to the second section, saidthird section having a leg fastener opening, the third sectionterminating in the bottom end; and a fastening apparatus for passingthrough said leg opening of all of said legs; wherein the grill bottomis a generally truncated cone shape, and wherein the middle portion ofeach leg extends from the upper portion at an exterior angle between 90and 150 degrees, the bottom portion extends from the middle portion atan interior angle between 60 and 90 degrees, said fastening apparatusfastens said bottom ends of said legs and the rim engages said top endof each of said legs, the upper openings receive said upper tabs, thelower openings receive said lower tabs, said upper tabs support thefirst rack and said lower tabs support the second rack.
 18. A portablegrill assembly system comprising: a grill bottom having a rim; first andsecond racks for holding items; a grill cover; at least two legs; atleast one upper opening in said grill bottom for each leg, said upperopenings spaced equidistant on the circumference of said grill bottombelow said rim; at least one lower openings in said grill bottom foreach leg, said lower openings spaced equidistant on the circumference ofsaid grill bottom below the upper openings; each of said legs having atop end, a bottom end, a lower tab, an upper tab, an upper portionbeginning at the top end and generally matching the contour of the grillbottom, a middle portion being generally straight, and a lower portionhaving three sections, the first section forming a foot portion, thesecond section being generally parallel to the one-third of the leg atthe middle, the third section being generally perpendicular to thesecond section, said third section having a leg fastener opening, thethird section terminating in the bottom end; and a fastening apparatusfor passing through said leg fastener opening of all of said legs;wherein the middle portion of each leg extends from the upper portion atan exterior angle between 90 and 150 degrees, the bottom portion extendsfrom the middle portion at an interior angle between 60 and 90 degrees,said fastening apparatus fastens said bottom ends of said legs and saidrim engages said top end of each of said legs, said upper openingsreceive said upper tabs, said lower openings receive said lower tabs,said upper tabs support said first rack and said lower tabs support saidsecond rack.